The current inhabitants of Tulipe are not direct descendents of the ancient Yumbo civilisation. (link). In 2005 the population of the Tulipe hamlet was 82. Today it is approximately 300.

Between 1870 and 1960 the local people cut down the forest to open up the area for agriculture and to export wood. Much damage was caused by replacing the original vegetation with pasture and by crop burning, causing soil erosion. Between 1950 and 1970 the local inhabitants concentrated on cultivating sugar cane to make ‘aguardiente’ (brandy).

Today’s Tulipe residents are primarily farmers and agricultural workers, raising cattle and cultivating sugar cane, avocados and oranges.